Archbishop B. M. Nzimbi of the Anglican (Episcopal) Church of Kenya apologized on behalf of the Anglican Church for the Church’s history of stigmatizing people living with HIV/AIDS. In what he termed “leaving the flock behind”, the Archbishop apologized for the Church’s slow response to reducing stigma directed at people living with HIV or AIDS. The apology came at a workshop for religious leaders in Kenya which was organized by CARE and ANERELA+, the Africa Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV and AIDS. At the workshop, the Archbishop assured participants that he will work with people living with HIV and AIDS and other religious leaders to remove HIV-related stigma from the religious sector. The participants, most of whom were living with HIV or AIDS or had been personally affected, said the Archbishop’s words were part of their healing therapy.

The CORE Initiative has provided support to ANERELA+, as well as national chapters in Kenya and Rwanda, to further support the efforts of African religious leaders to address stigma, encourage prevention, and provide care and support to people living with HIV or AIDS. The ANERELA+ workshop brought together 30 participants from ANERELA+; the Rwandan, Kenyan, Ugandan, and Tanzanian affiliates; and partner organizations to discuss ways to govern and strengthen their networks and to examine ways to further reduce stigma within religious communities.